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Teacher who allegedly had sexual contact with Tangipahoa students no longer employed by schools
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PONCHATOULA — A Tangipahoa Parish teacher arrested this week after allegedly possessing child sexual abuse material and having sexual contact with a student is no longer employed with the Tangipahoa Parish School System, Superintendent Melissa Martin Stilley said on Thursday.
Thirty-year-old Trey Sparks was arrested Tuesday on four counts of possessing child sexual abuse material depicting victims under the age of 13 and one count of prohibited sexual contact between an educator and a student. Sparks was a teacher at DC Reeves Elementary School as well as a coach at Ponchatoula Junior High School.
Sparks was previously put on administrative leave by the parish until law enforcement finished their investigation.
Last month, Ponchatoula Police were contacted by concerned parents who located alarming messages between a juvenile and a coach with the Tangipahoa Parish School System.
"I believe some parents found some very concerning stuff on one of their children's phones. We got the initial complaint I believe September 13. "Based on the information that we received in that interview, We obtained some search warrants for Mr. Sparks' SnapChat accounts. Once we got that information back, we then proceeded to get search warrants for his electronic devices," Ponchatoula Police Chief Bry Layrisson said.
Ponchatoula Police seized devices in late September belonging to Sparks and found victims in Livingston Parish.
Livingston Parish Schools also issued a statement saying Sparks was a teacher at Maurepas School from 2021 to 2024. He resigned in October 2024 to pursue "other opportunities" related to employment with another district.
Additionally, officials say they narrowed the timeframe of Sparks' criminal activity in Livingston to 2023 - 2024, when he was employed at Maurepas School.
"Best that we can tell right now is when he started employment at Maurepas high school, up till at least last year at Ponchatoula Jr. High," Layrisson said.
Sparks was booked in the Livingston Parish Detention Center late Wednesday evening on molestation of a juvenile, two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile, one count of computer solicitation of a minor, one count of sexual battery, one count of possession of CSAM, one count of production of CSAM and prohibited sexual conduct between educator and student.
LPSO Sheriff Jason Ard previously told WBRZ that more charges as expected as possible victims are identified.
"Right now, we don't how far out how many victims we have and that's one of the hardest things to swallow right now is it there just three or four or is it a dozen or more," Layrisson said. "We put so much trust into our educators. We trust them to teach our children and serve as role models to help turn them into young adults and when that trust is betrayed, its devastating," He added.
Livingston parish Resident Brad Sibley told WBRZ he was infuriated when he found out about the news of the situation.
"It's infuriating. Makes you wonder what is going on. I mean it's hard to even imagine this kind of stuff happens here," Sibley said.
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